The banners and flags staked in the city's right-of-ways and posted atop business roofs are not only illegal, they're annoying to many residents.

Residents in northeast Phoenix neighborhoods, such as Sunnyslope, have told Councilman Bill Gates the city needs to crack down on these illegal signs.

Gates said he shares their concerns.

"Over the past few years, the signs -- especially those flag signs -- have just gotten worse and worse," Gates said.

Phoenix outlaws signs in public right-of-ways -- the streets, curbs, medians, traffic lights, poles and unimproved road shoulders, as well as the area that is about 21/2 feet beyond the sidewalk. The city also outlaws flag and banner signs.

The city plans to hire a handful of new workers to cut down on what Planning and Development Director Debra Stark calls "visual chaos."

The city will cover some of the cost for the positions through fee increases on sign permits.

Stark said the signs have gotten out of hand. So far this year, the city has received about 250 complaints.

"We want our businesses to succeed, but when you get all these flag signs and banners, it really does get chaotic," she said. "You go, my God, there's too much to look at."

Sign enforcement

City budget cuts during the recession forced officials to cut its signage-focused staff in half, losing a half-dozen inspectors and workers to save an estimated $430,000.

For banners, flags and other outlawed signs, "enforcement has really been very, very slim," said Tim Boling, deputy director of Phoenix Neighborhood Services, which issues citations.

Since July, the city has issued two citations against two businesses for the banner and flag signs.

On July 3, an inspector issued final notices of violation to El Ranchero Meat Market/Checks Cashed store at 2247 N. 32nd St. for posting illegal banner and flag signs around the business, and for having an illegal painted wall sign. On Aug. 20, the city cited the Log Cabin Motel at 2511 E. Van Buren St. for posting illegal banner and flag signs.

City officials said the motel has complied with the city's ordinance, but the market has not. The business may soon face fines in Phoenix Municipal Court if it fails to remove the signs. The fine per violation ranges from $250 to $2,500.

Common offenders

City officials said they rank cellphone businesses among the most common violators of signage laws. A Cricket Wireless business at Indian School Road near Arizona 51 is an example. Banner signs touting the phones line the business' rooftop.

Greg Lund, a spokesman for the San Diego-based company, said Cricket officials met with Phoenix police in January about signage restrictions to ensure store managers follow the laws.

However, while the company owns 10 stores in Phoenix, 240 independently owned wireless stores throughout Phoenix sell the phones.

"It's easy for (city officials) to say, 'It's Cricket's problem,' " Lund said. "For what we control (the 10 stores), we believe we are in compliance. Independent dealers -- they're ultimately their own bosses."

New inspectors

Phoenix's plan to tackle the problem involves the two departments focused on signage issues: planning and development, and Neighborhood Services.

The Planning and Development Department, in charge of sign permits and inspections, will hire two inspectors at a cost of $143,000 sometime this fiscal year. Officials said they plan to increase fees on sign permits to cover the cost.

The city has four inspectors who handle permit applications and check on illegal signage only when a resident calls with a complaint. The city is down to one trades helper -- a handyman assigned to help remove illegal signs. Occasionally, Phoenix's anti-graffiti workers remove signs, officials said.

The Planning and Development Department depends on user fees to pay for staff and operations, so "we're probably going to bump fees up 10 to 15 percent," Stark said.

A permit for most types of signs -- including real estate "for sale" posts -- costs $150 plus a $225 plan-review fee. A 15 percent increase would bump the permit to about $173 and review fee to nearly $259.

Stark said the city "prefers not to take businesses to court over signs," so it is now focused on removal and education on signage, instead of issuing citations.

"In these desperate times, these businesses are trying their darndest to get people into their stores," she said. "I don't blame them. They're trying to get the word out to get their businesses going."

She said the city is working closely with the sign industry on the city's plan for increased oversight.

The Arizona Sign Association, an industry group with more than 85 sign companies as members, is on board. They want to avoid further regulation and limit fee increases when possible.

"We are very seriously concerned with the amount of illegal signs out there," said Patricia King, the group's executive director. "If there's a lot of illegal sign activity, then the (cities and counties) try to even further restrict their codes."

Phoenix Neighborhood Services will hire two new trades helpers and an inspector, city budget documents show. Their salaries will be paid for through the city's general fund at a combined cost of $200,000 per year. The city currently has one trades helper.

At Neighborhood Services, "we're going to pick up the bulk of the sign enforcement," Boling said. "We're going to set up a phone number for complaints."

Neighborhood Services has put together brochures and information to give to business owners who have posted illegal signs, he said.